The Royal Contract

"I'm sorry again, Dani, if I was late. My work piled up since we had been away for a week." He tried to apologize again when they were already seated in his car. 

He felt so awful when he knocked on her apartment door, forgetting about the flowers in his haste and then coming late. He did not want to use his work as an excuse for neglecting his obligation to her, especially when they were barely dating for a week.

"Don't worry about it. I was a bit late too. I thought you were already waiting for me when I arrived home. Fortunately, you also ran late. Let's call this even." She did not want to blame him for something that she was also guilty of doing.

"Thanks for understanding. I thought that you were mad at me when you did not answer my calls and messages." He felt relieved hearing that she did not mind his tardiness.

"About that. I had turned my ringer off, so I did no notice your calls and messages. Since I was also running late, I rushed home without looking at it. I only read your messages when I texted you." She explained. She wanted him to feel that it was not solely his fault if they were both late in their dinner reservation.

"You know what I think?" He pulled her hand from her lap and kissed it, quickly looking at her.

"What?" She asked, feeling her heart quickened its heartbeat with his mere touch and gentle kiss. She could not wait for what he had to say.

"I am the luckiest man right now because you agreed to be mine." He gave her hand another kiss, a bit longer this time before he let it go and concentrated back on his driving.

He seemed to know his ways with words that she was always left speechless. Her heart was on her throat, preventing her from saying anything else.

He brought her to one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. Upon seeing who they were, the hostess immediately showed them to one of their best tables. 

It was overlooking the city and picturesque skyscrapers with their beautiful bright lights on. As expected, they did not mind that they were late with their reservation. 

Today, they were one of the hottest couples in society after the press learned about their engagement and Alex's true identity. Their faces grazed the front pages of social magazines and the internet.

She was not expecting that the news would escalate in this proportion. But she could not do anything about it anymore. She was used to it, and she believed that it would blow over in time.

"Why do you look like you are not happy here?" He asked when they were sitting and were left alone to choose their food.

He could see that her eyes did not sparkle the same way when they were on their trip. The way she enjoyed their walked in the park. 

"Oh no. I appreciate the effort you made to get a reservation in a place like this." She told him. She was sure that the line to get a table in this place would have taken months.

"In truth, I did no such thing. I only asked my secretary to book us somewhere special, and she was the one who chose this." He could not take credit for something he did not do.

"But at least you still showed up." She appreciated his honesty.

"So far, come to think of it, I had done nothing to make this night memorable. Except, I guess to show up late." He smiled at his statement.

"I think we both did make it memorable by being both late." She corrected him, which made them both laugh.

"At least, I had made you laugh. I was afraid that your tight smile might turn into a frown a few minutes more." He took her hand across from the table.

"Almost." She agreed with him, teasing him for criticizing her smile.

"Then remind me again next time not to ask my secretary to plan our date. I think we both agree that this is not what we had in mind." He kissed her hand, settling for it in the meantime.

He agreed that going to a fancy restaurant with an overrated price for a meal was not something that they both would enjoy. As far as he was concerned, he could also cook something as fancy at a lesser price.

He had no qualms about going on a place liked this if it was a business deal that he needed to impress a client. Most of them were pretentious people who would like to dine and wine.

But to get to know a person, he would prefer something more ordinary. Somewhere where they both could show their true self.

"You have a deal." She suddenly felt lighter, knowing that they both felt the same way about their preferences.

"For now, let us just enjoy what they had to offer." He suggested since it was late to look for something else. 

Besides, he already heard her stomach growling while they were in the car. But he would not admit that to her. He did not want her to feel embarrassed.

"Why don't we make this more interesting?" She proposed, beckoning him with her finger to come closer to her.

He moved his chair next to hers and leaned a bit closer to her face. "What are you up to?" He could see in her eyes that she was planning something. 

"Just follow my lead." She whispered near to his ears when the head waiter appeared at their table. All he could do was raised his brows at her. And then he looked at the man in the black and white uniform.

"Are we ready to order?" The man asked politely.

"Yes, I will have your cheapest meal." She did not even look at the menu as she said it.

She wondered what Alex would do after hearing her order. Would he see the humor in it, or was he as uptight as Nick? She was rooting for the former. The last week they were together, she had enjoyed his company.

The waiter appeared surprised about what she said. "Pardon?" He asked as he focused on her.

"My girlfriend ordered your cheapest meal. I think I'll have the same and kindly pair it with your cheapest wine." He made sure that he said the words clearly, so he did not have to ask again.

The man seemed confused with the order but did not say anything more as he took the menu board and excused himself to get their orders.

"Let us see what we ordered." She announced to him excitedly, glad that he was on board with her idea.

"I think you just created mayhem in the kitchen with that stunt, but I am intrigued." He could not help but be impressed with her idea. 

"Well, why should I pay for their most expensive food when I know that their cheapest would be good as well?" She reasoned with him.

"Oh! I think I love the way you think." He could not wait for the rest of the night. He was sure that she had more up her sleeves that he would love to explore.

Admittedly, this night would be the first in his book. A very memorable date indeed.